The Rodent In Pennsylvania Better Know What’s Good For Him

I hope his stubby little legs can get him back in his burrow as quickly as possible if he even dares to say there will be six more weeks of this winter. Enough is enough is what I say.

If you are not going to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania tonight to stand on Gobbler’s Knob all night and enjoy the festivities, you can sit in your jammies and watch Punxsutawney Phil, The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, at work at 7:25 a.m. on Sunday morning by clicking here.

Personally, I say you should go stand on the Knob, just once in your life – besides, where else can you wear your Groundhog Necklace?

And, having the “holiday” fall on a Saturday – Sunday works great for us working folk. Here’s the schedule of events for this weekend. I had a blast on the Knob when I went and I would do it again if someone would go with me! You may even get your picture taken with one of the “Inner Circle” guys. I did!

According to the state of Pennsylvania’s website, the story of Groundhog Day begins with Candlemas, an early Christian holiday where candles were blessed and distributed. Celebrators of the holiday eventually declared clear skies on Candlemas meant a longer winter. The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, brought this tradition to the Germans, who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather or “Second Winter.” German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania, but how did Punxsutawney Phil emerge?

In 1887, a spirited group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves “The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.” One member was an editor of Punxsutawney’s newspaper. Using his ink, he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only weather prognosticating groundhog. He issued this proclamation on Candlemas, and yes, Groundhog Day. Phil’s fame spread, and newspapers from around the globe began to report his Gobbler’s Knob prediction.